Survey Reveals What Veggie Most People Look For At The Farmers Market
Whether you thrive in the sunshine or prefer cozying up with a sweater, one of the best parts of any time of year is cooking with seasonal produce. Biting into a juicy watermelon slice on a hot day is totally different from sipping steaming pea soup in the cold, but both have a way of making a body feel connected to the earth. That said, if you have a penchant for seasonal vegetables and the folks who grow them, there's arguably no better place to go than your local farmers market — and many U.S. consumers agree.
According to the Farmers Market Coalition, the number of farmers markets across the country registered in the USDA Farmers Market Directory jumped from 2,000 in 1994 to over 8,600 in 2019. In fact, per the USDA, August 7-13 is National Farmers Market Week. Now, Tasting Table asked 615 readers about their seasonal shopping habits to find out, once and for all, what veggies most people look for at the farmers market. (See if your fave made the list.)
Orange you glad it's tomato season?
Hot potato! Or, perhaps, not so hot. Only 5.69% of spud-head voters said they'll be keeping an eye out for potatoes during their next farmers market visit. Up next, peppers raked in 9.76% of the vote — it looks like folks are hesitant to spice things up — pun intended. 19.67% of voters are hoping to find a prize zucchini or squash amidst the displays. In the runner-up spot, with over ¼ of the vote, we're all ears: 25.37% of voters say corn is at the top of their lists this season.
Finally, the moment we've all been waiting for, the veggie most people look for at the farmers market is technically not a vegetable at all, depending on who you ask. According to Britannica, it's both: "Tomatoes are fruits that are considered vegetables by nutritionists." That's right – with a whopping 39.51% of the vote, tomatoes are the most sought-after veggie at the farmers market. Plus, per Reference, the U.S. season for tomatoes runs from June through to September, so feel free to load up on these fan favorites before the season is over.